Improved ditching-machine



@duits/nl 5 PETER LUGE NB E LL, OF GREE NSBURG, INDIANA.

Leners Patent No. 89,227, dated April 2o, 1869.

IMPROVED DITCHINGMACHINE.

*ww- The Schedule :referred to in these Letters Patent and making partof the Same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PETER LUGENBELL, ofGreensburg, in the county of Decatur, and in the State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines'; anddo hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In the annexed drawings, making part ofthis specication- A represents asquare frame, (similar to that of a wagon-bed,)which is supported upontwo axle-trees, being made fast to the rear axle-tree, and bolted to theforwzn l one, so that the bolt, acting as a pivot, will allow it toturn, or partially revolve.

These axle-trees C, are provided with the wheels D D, which carrytheframe from place to place.

Erected upon the frame A, are standards A A', said standards beingsecured to the inside ofthe frame, at

its four corners, each one having a vertical groove in -it, from itsbottom to near its top.

Side-bars B, and end-bars B B', connect the standands A together', attheir upper ends. 1 l A ,Y G G represent two cross-bars, whose ends aremade to fit in the grooves of the standards A', and which slide up anddown in said grooves.

These cross-bars are hung, near each end, by means of cords or chains,to crank-shafts L L.

When these shaft are revolved, the cords or chains are wound aroundthem, and the bars are thus drawn.

'They are let down, of course, by unwin'ding.l

A frame, composed of two side-bars, E E, placedat ta suitable distanceapart, and two end-bars, G G', seen in dotted lines, Figure 2, ispivoted to the centres of the adjustable bars G G.

A bolt, S, passes through the centres of the bars G and G', and thuspivots the frame to the slide-bars.

Depending from the bars E, are two supports, H H; and in the lower endsof these supports, a wheel, I, has bearings for its axle.

The periphery of this wheel is provided with three rims, or anges, P PP, one at each ledge, and one in its centre.

J J represent two Shanks, with plow-teeth on their lower ends.

The upper ends of these shanks, are secured to the pivoted frame abovedescribed.

The lower ends of these Shanks rest between the Hanges P P.

Pivoted to the lower ends of these two shanks, are

two rims, which have the curve of the wheel I, andl which lie betweenthe flanges P P, near their edges, so that a'space, sucient toallowearth to pass up, is left between them `and the periphery of the wheel.

K K represent two metallic shields, which are secured upon the pivotedframe, and which have tongues on them, which project in between the rimsP P, and receive the earth as it is brought up.

The shields bend downward at their sides, so that the earth may bedelivered to one side of the ditch.

When a ditch is to be made with this machine, the

frame A is drawn along in the line of the ditch, and

the wheel Itis lowered by the shafts L, until its rims, or flanges outinto the earth. When this is the case, the lower ends of the rims, whichare secured to the shanks J J, catch earth and pass it up between saidrims and the periphery of the wheel. The wheel I revolving, assists incarrying it up. When the earth arrives at the top of the wheel, it isdelivered to the shields K K, and passes off to one side.

By running the machine in the line of the ditch, and lowering the wheelI each time a little more, the ditch is dug as deep as necessary.

The arrangement of the frame A, with an adjustable pivoted interiorframe, having wheel I, flanges P P, Shanks J J, and shields K Kfwiththeir respective parts all constructed and operating as and for thepurposes set forth.

l In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand,this 8th day of October, 1867.

PETER LUGENBELL. Witnesses:

WM. H. BROCKMAN, G. W. McGoNNELL.

